Ducks’ Kevin Bieksa out indefinitely with hand injury

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Ducks defenseman and noted NHL pugilist Kevin Bieksa, right, throws a punch to the face of the Flyers’ Radko Gudas during a scuffle on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. Bieksa is out indefinitely with an injury to his left hand. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

SUNRISE, Fla. — If the perception was the Ducks were due to go some time without another notable injury, well, think again.

Kevin Bieksa took his place in their painful line Thursday. The defenseman is going to miss the remaining three games of their four-game trip and possibly more after he was sent back to Orange County to have a hand injury examined by team doctors.

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle ominously said Bieksa “will be out for an extended period of time.” He was hurt in a one-sided fight with Philadelphia defenseman Radko Gudas on Tuesday night.

Bieksa caught Gudas with his right hand in a one-punch knockdown during their scrap in the first period of the Ducks’ 6-2 win over the Flyers. But it appears his left one is what is damaged as Carlyle didn’t want to delve into specifics. “I’m going to say it wasn’t the hand that delivered the punch,” he said.

What it meant for Thursday night’s game against Florida is that Korbinian Holzer drew back into the lineup after being scratched for the past three games. What it could mean long term is the Ducks have to tap further into their impressive defensive depth, which they’re relied on more than they anticipated.

To address the roster hole, the Ducks called up Steven Oleksy from the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. Oleksy, who signed a one-year deal over the summer, wasn’t needed to draw into the lineup.

“The depth that we’ve got is really good,” Brandon Montour said. “Obviously you don’t want those guys out. Injuries (stink) for any team and having key guys out. But we got guys to step up and take the reins as they’re gone. It’s good to see that. Guys like Megs (Jaycob Megna) and myself. Holz coming in. It gives guys opportunities to play bigger minutes.

“Hopefully it’s sooner this year than coming into playoffs and guys getting hurt then.”

Bieksa joins a long list of players who have had to miss time because of injury or illness. The Ducks already have 49 man-games lost and learned before the trip that winger Patrick Eaves will be out indefinitely with Guilliain-Barre syndrome, a muscle-weakening autoimmune disorder.

“You can only coach the players that are available to you and sometimes injuries take their toll,” Carlyle said. “What you do is you play to your group. And it’s got to be replaced by committee.

“It’s not one or two individuals. It’s got to be a hockey club that’s got to go out and play a structured hockey game and outwork the opposition in some critical areas.”

REMAINING ON HOLD

Reto Berra will continue to serve as John Gibson’s backup as the debut of Ryan Miller (wrist) is still on hold. Miller continues to face shots in net daily, but his activation from injured reserve doesn’t appear to be imminent.

“Somewhere along the line, we’re looking at that as a possibility,” Carlyle said. “But those are situations that we’ll deal with on a day-to-day basis. We’re just trying to patch together our lineup and have some success on this road trip.”

The Ducks have games Saturday at Tampa Bay and Sunday at Carolina, but it isn’t clear if Miller is working toward becoming available for either one. Though he is on the trip and practicing daily, Sami Vatanen (shoulder) also isn’t quite ready to make his season debut.

KERDILES AILING

Injury issues have again crept up on Ducks prospect Nic Kerdiles as the winger had to leave the Gulls’ game against Stockton on Wednesday. Reports are that Kerdiles took a knee to the head in an inadvertent fashion.

After a groin injury wrecked his opportunity to make the Ducks out of training camp, Kerdiles played limited minutes in two games with them before being sent back down. A Gulls spokesman said Kerdiles, who has a concussion history, won’t be with the team for its weekend trip to Texas and will be re-evaluated next week.

Eric Stephens has been covering the Ducks and the NHL for news outlets since 2005 and for the Orange County Register since 2009. Now happily spreading the hockey gospel throughout the Southern California News Group. Has covered three Stanley Cup Finals and (sadly) one NHL lockout. Once took up an invitation to a fan's tailgate barbecue at the College World Series. Has all sorts of genres on his iPod and tries his best in whatever he does most of the time. Only the grits at Waffle House come close to his. Eternal goal: Be better.